Mesoporous, highly ordered magnesium and niobium based ternary oxide compound, process for its preparation and uses

Abstract

The present invention concerns a Magnesium (Mg) and Niobium (Nb) ternary oxide with very high morphological order degree having Mg 11.1 Nb 22.2 O 66.7 atomic percentage composition which, due to the chemical composition and morphological and nanostructural properties, can be used in various fields of technological interest, specifically it is suitable to be used as dielectric material for capacitors, as material for hydrogen confinement and energy storage.

1 . A magnesium and niobium based ternary oxide compound having a mesoporous nature. 
     
     
         2 . The compound according to  claim 1 , the pores of the mesoporous compound are homogenously distributed in an amorphous matrix in a geometrically ordered way. 
     
     
         3 . The compound according to  claim 1 , the compound has the following atomic percentage composition: Mg 11.1 Nb 22.2 O 66.7 . 
     
     
         4 . A process for preparation of the compound of  claim 1 , the process comprising:
 preparing a solution of surfactant in suitable solvent;   adding to the prepared solution magnesium and niobium metallic precursors;   evaporating the solvent under stable and controlled relative humidity conditions for a time period not shorter than that necessary to the formation of a gel phase;   calcining in order to eliminate the surfactant.   
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the surfactant is a nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 5 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is a polymeric nonionic triblock surfactant consisting of polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, polyethylene oxide. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 6 , wherein the polymeric nonionic triblock surfactant has formula: HO(CH 2 CH 2 O) 20 (CH 2 CH—(OH)CH 2 O) 70 (CH 2 CH 2 O) 20 H or HO(CH 2 CH 2 O) 106 (CH 2 CH—(OH)CH 2 O) 70 (CH 2 CH 2 O) 106 H. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the suitable solvent is a mixture of ethanol and water or of ethanol, hydrochloric acid, tetrahydrofuran. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the magnesium and niobium metallic precursors are added at molar ratio variable from 1:2 up to Nb excess equal to 10% molar. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the magnesium and niobium metallic precursors are selected from MgCl 2  and NbCl 5  or Mg(OH) 2  and NbCl 5  pairs 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein
 when the metallic precursor pair is MgCl 2  and NbCl 5 , the solvent is a mixture of ethanol and water; and   when the metallic precursor pair is Mg(OH) 2  and NbCl 5 , the solvent is a mixture of ethanol, hydrochloric acid, tetrahydrofuran.   
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the evaporating and calcining steps are carried out in air. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the evaporating is carried out at a temperature from 40 to 50° C. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the evaporating is carried out under stable and controlled relative humidity conditions from 40 to 60%. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the calcining is carried out at a temperature lower than crystallization temperature of the compound. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 using the compound of  claim 1  in a capacitor or condenser.   
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 using the compound of  claim 1  in materials for hydrogen confinement.   
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 using the compound of  claim 1  in materials for energy storage in form of electromagnetic wave.   
     
     
         19 . A capacitor or condenser comprising the compound of  claim 1   
     
     
         20 . A material for hydrogen confinement comprising the compound of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         21 . A material for energy storage in form of electromagnetic wave comprising the compound of  claim 1 .